TEEING OFF:

BRENDAN JAMES

WHAT makes a golf course find its way onto your list of favourites? Is it the pristine condition it is generally presented in, or are you besotted by quality design that forces you to think your way across the journey?

For many, their favourite course is probably the one they try to conquer every week playing alongside their mates. So it’s not always about the golf, sometimes it might be the social aspect of playing at a course that you enjoy. That said, you might really like a course simply because the halfway house has the best bacon and egg rolls you’ve ever eaten

No matter what the reason, we’ve all got our list of favourite courses we love playing.

I’m often asked for my favourite Australian course and I start rattling off a list as long as your arm. I’ve worked on ranking lists based on course design and conditioning etc. for many years but until now I’ve never actually sat down and tried to, at least mentally, split my most favourite courses to play.

I think, if pushed, I’d probably plump for Royal Melbourne West course, by a nose from Barnbougle Dunes. I always walk to the 1st tee of both with a smile. But I’d also throw in Narooma, on the NSW South Coast, because I have so many happy memories of playing there.

And then, before you know it, there’s a growing list. It’s hard to play favourites.

For many, it would seem, Bonville Golf Resort (pictured) is their favourite. The NSW North Coast course has been voted Australia’s Favourite Course for the past two years. Will it make 2018 a three-peat? During the next three months we are giving you the chance to VOTE for your favourite courses and, just for telling us, you’ll go into the running to be fitted out – head to toe – like a Callaway Golf tour staff professional.

Voting for Australia’s 50 Favourite Golf Courses opens on August 23 and all you have to do is visit our website, www.golfaustralia.com.au, and vote for your top-three courses, from your favourite down to your third favourite. It’s that easy. When the poll closes in late November, we’ll collate the votes and you’ll be able to see if your favourite course makes our top-50, which will be published in a special edition of our weekly digital magazine, Golf Australia Express. But more importantly, we might be getting in touch with you as the new owner of a Callaway equipment package worth $5,000.